Sellers I talked with at the Big Swap Bonanza last May said they were glad, finally, to have the chance to hold a garage sale. The Swap was in the parking lot of Soldier Field and open to anybody who wanted to set up a table. For people who live in high-rise buildings, this was a good opportunity to join in this one big yard sale, sell their unused stuff and make some extra cash.
In any season, a garage sale in an apartment or condo is a logistics
challenge, which is why two guys in New York created Tag Sell It.
Tag Sell It is a web service that gives a spin to the virtual yard sale. Sellers
can list up to 100 items on a dedicated page. The page allows plenty
of space for item description and price, and the listings are displayed
as a group and are searchable through the site's database.
Here's how Matt Dorman, one of Tag Sell It founder's, describes the service in an interview with nj.com:
"On Craigslist or eBay, people have to sell individual items...This gives them an opportunity to sell a number of
items so they can get rid of more things faster. Some people also can't do a tag sale because they live in
apartments or rural areas," he said. "This is a niche that makes them
stand out."
The site was started by Dorman, 31, and Jonathon Papsin, 27, a New
York real estate agent.
Consumers sell everything from electronics to Barbie dolls, books,
magazines, office equipment and household items.
So, here's how it works:
- You sign up, upload photos and tell about your items, then go live to buyers
- You can edit your listings at anytime by logging into the site
- Buyers interested in purchasing an item will make an offer through the site's interface
- At that time, you can arrange a transaction and pick-up time with a local buyer or negotiate payment and shipping fees for long distance transactions
The site is new and still building a readership. Listings for up to 100 items will eventually be fee-based, but the co-founders Dorman and Papson would like you to try it for free when you use this coupon.
How interesting, I went to the Big Swap Bonanza and found quite a few great items at cheap prices... half of the vendors just seemed to be regular people getting rid of stuff and the other half were dealers at other flea markets clearing out some of their merchandise. People in my neighborhood have garage sales all the time, they just do it on their front steps or on the sidewalk. I can imagine in NYC and in parts of Chicago, however, that it would prove difficult to do so-- will have to check out this new site soon (and maybe bid on an item!).